Howl (2010)

As Allen Ginsberg talks about his life and art, his most famous poem is illustrated in animation while the obscenity trial of the work is dramatized.

Directors:

Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman

Writers:

Rob Epstein (written for the screen by), Jeffrey Friedman (written for the screen by)

Stars:

James Franco, Todd Rotondi, Jon Prescott

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Franco	...	Allen Ginsberg
Todd Rotondi	...	Jack Kerouac
Jon Prescott	...	Neal Cassady
Aaron Tveit	...	Peter Orlovsky
David Strathairn	...	Ralph McIntosh
Jon Hamm	...	Jake Ehrlich
Andrew Rogers	...	Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Bob Balaban	...	Judge Clayton Horn
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Gail Potter
Heather Klar	...	Jack's Girlfriend
Kaydence Frank	...	Allen's Girlfriend (as Kadance Frank)
Treat Williams	...	Mark Schorer
Joe Toronto	...	Sailor
Johary Ramos	...	Hustler
Nancy Spence	...	Neal's Girlfriend

Storyline

It's San Francisco in 1957, and an American masterpiece is put on trial. Howl, the film, recounts this dark moment using three interwoven threads: the tumultuous life events that led a young Allen Ginsberg to find his true voice as an artist, society's reaction (the obscenity trial), and animation that echoes the poem's surreal style. All three coalesce in hybrid that dramatizes the birth of a counterculture.

---

Plot Keywords:

poem | trial | obscenity | interview | homosexuality | 

---

Taglines:

The Obscenity Trial That Started a Revolution. The Poem That Rocked a Generation.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content including language and images, and for some drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 2010 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Uivo

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$51,185 (USA) (24 September 2010)

Gross:

$617,334 (USA) (4 February 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Werc Werk Works, Telling Pictures, RabbitBandini Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jake Ehrlich: The battle of censorship will not be finally settled by your honor's decision, but you will either add to liberal-educated thinking, or by your decision you will add fuel to the fire of ignorance. Let there be light. Let there be honesty. Let there be no running from non-existent destroyers of morals. Let there be honest understanding.

---

Connections

Featured in Late Show with David Letterman: James Franco/Sofia Vergara/Shakira (2010)

---

Soundtracks

"Forever Hers"
Written by Eddie Waltman

User Reviews

A white page in skin of pastel nuances

Nice. Delicate. Naife. Slice of ordinary London or any East Europe country. A film like an onion bread. Or spring day. Traces of winter, seeds of summer. And mixture of nostalgia and hope. A movie about love and relationship. Small gestures, shadows of words, good intentions and discovery of life. Step by step. With innocence and resignations. The axis - a teenager for who the existence is only piece of clay to be molded. A story like a fragment from Tchekov universe. Or a song with humble lyrics. Nothing spectacular, nothing strong. Only a picture in a huge art gallery. And light of a spring day with soul of February. A beatnic, her husband, a trail, few words on chat, sketches of expectation and the truth as guillotine blade. In fact, white page in skin of pastel nuances.